Representatives from the Fund for Ravenswood and staff from the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation (PACF) awarded a total of $104,420 through 13 grants to local nonprofits during the Fall 2025 grant awards ceremony. The event was held at the First United Methodist Church in Ravenswood on Thursday evening and brought together community leaders, volunteers, and grant recipients.

The grants support a variety of initiatives ranging from youth programs and literacy development to health services and neighborhood improvements, all designed to strengthen Ravenswood’s community life.

This year’s grants fall into two categories: Community Action Grants, which provide funding for strategic projects that benefit the community at large, and Caught Doing Good Grants, which recognize individuals, teams, and organizations whose volunteer efforts and dedication go above and beyond.

PACF Executive Director Fred Rader praised the community’s spirit, saying, “Ravenswood’s strength lies in its people — those who give their time and energy to make a difference. These grants help turn their vision into reality and enrich the lives of all residents.”

Community Action Grants are reviewed twice annually as part of PACF’s fall and spring grant processes. These grants provide organizations with resources from both PACF’s grantmaking funds and donor-advised funds to implement meaningful projects that create lasting benefits for residents.

Nonprofits receiving funding from the Fund for Ravenswood during the Fall 2025 Community Action Grants include:

  • City of Ravenswood BOPARC, $9,000, to install a shade shelter at the Veteran's Park playground
  • City of Ravenswood, $16,000, to provide operating support for the OnTrac Program
  • FARMacy WV: Prescriptions for Produce, $13,820 total — $6,660 Fund for Ravenswood; $1,875 Doddridge County Medical Center Fund; $4,785 Doddridge County Grantmaking Fund; $500 Bruce and Judy Holmes Advised Fund; to provide FARMacy WV programs at Coplin Health Systems in Jackson County and Integrated Health Centers of WV in Doddridge County.
  • Hope House Ministries Inc., $10,000 total — $5,000 from Fund for Ravenswood; $5,000 from Walter E. and Marie Ausenheimer Memorial Fund; for operating support
  • Pilot Club of Jackson County, $10,000, to be used to pay for the dental needs of Ravenswood residents
  • Read Aloud West Virginia, $11,600 total — $5,000 from Fund for Ravenswood; $5,000 from Carl W. Balderson, Jr. Memorial Fund for the Love of Reading; $350 from Altrusa of Parkersburg Charitable Fund; $600 from Frank Sheppard Memorial Fund; $650 from Homer and Edith Hickman Charitable Fund; to allow Read Aloud WV to expand weekly classroom readers in the region, and to provide book bundles for elementary school students in Ravenswood.
  • Ravenswood High School, up to $20,000, matching grant to create a student courtyard where students can gather for an outdoor class setting, lunch, and socialization
  • Sleep in Heavenly Peace, $5,000 total — $4,750 from Fund for Ravenswood; $250 from Bruce and Judy Holmes Advised Fund; to build and deliver 15 fully furnished beds to children in Ravenswood who are currently sleeping on floors or in other inadequate conditions, providing them with dignity, comfort, and a safe place to rest

“Caught Doing Good” grants aim to honor the volunteers and groups who demonstrate extraordinary commitment to helping inspire others and strengthen the sense of community throughout Ravenswood. 

The Fall 2025 “Caught Doing Good” grant recipients are:

  • Ravenswood High School Boys Basketball Team, $1,000, in recognition of Coach Price
  • Ravenswood High School Girls Basketball Team, $1,000, in recognition of Coach Varney
  • Ravenswood High School, $1,000, honoring Jason Knopp and student volunteers at the fall community event
  • Adopt a Family Ravenswood, $3,000, to support holiday assistance for local families
  • Operation Fancy Free, $3,000, to recognize the efforts of Kathy and Brian Stone in animal welfare volunteer service

These grants reflect the Fund for Ravenswood’s ongoing commitment to empowering organizations and individuals who create meaningful, lasting positive change. Established in 2019, the Fund for Ravenswood supports projects that enhance the well-being of residents and promote a brighter future for the community. The Fund operates as a charitable fund within PACF, using regional resources to meet the unique needs of Ravenswood. Since its inception, the Fund has distributed $782,677 to strengthen the Ravenswood community.

For more information about upcoming grants or to support the Fund for Ravenswood, visit www.pacfwv.com or contact Amy Nahley, Senior Program Officer, at 304-428-4438. Gifts are fully tax-deductible and may be made online or mailed to PO Box 1762, Parkersburg, WV 26102.